The Force is Strong with this Version: Top New Features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Online

At a high level, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 focuses on productivity tools; predictive analytics with machine learning intelligence; offline capability and simplified data collection with field control types for mobile users; and enhancements to the Service user experience. Additionally, CRM 2016 on-premises environments get access to many of the great CRM 2015 Online Update 1 features that were released earlier this year. With so many awesome and amazing features in CRM 2016 we could talk about it for days, but we narrowed it down to a few specific enhancements to the online user experience in today’s blog. We know you are dying to hear more, so let’s begin!

With CRM 2016, the following CRM Online 2015 Update 1 features are now available for CRM 2016 On-premises environments:

CRM 2016 introduces a role-based experience for customer service agents. Users can view their current workload and interact with records through a real-time dashboard.

Cases can now be updated directly from the dashboard by selecting the case and the appropriate action.

Case Enhancements

Case management is simplified and better than ever. Users can now save case details directly on a case record and apply routing rules all in one action by clicking the Save & Route button.

Knowledge Management Capabilities

The new knowledge base article designer now features an enhanced WYSIWYG editor and allows for embedding videos and images. Articles can easily be scheduled to publish or expire for a future date. Knowledge can be enabled on any entity and over 80 languages are now supported. Articles can be shared with external users or analyzed internally to better understand how information is being used.

Word Templates

You can now standardize common CRM data-generated documents. Word templates can be initiated from any form or automated through a workflow. Extract data from CRM into a standardized word document with ease and create custom templates or leverage existing word templates from Microsoft!

Excel Templates

New Excel templates let you use a Microsoft Dynamics provided template or create your own reusable templates to quickly analyze data your way. CRM 2016 allows users to work with data from a downloaded template or from Excel Online. With the CRM Mobile Application, you can also export to Excel directly from a tablet or mobile device. Pretty Excel-lent, huh?

Delve

Unique to each user, Delve uses analytics to identify top trending documents in CRM relevant to the user. Delve looks for connections as to what the user is working on, common groups or teams, and identifies documents that may be relevant such as a newly saved presentation or proposal. Users can view trending documents relevant to them from a dashboard or Office 365.

*Note: data permissions still apply, meaning that if the user does not have permission to view the information it will not be presented.

Consolidated View of Documents in CRM

Display any Office document file from OneDrive for Business, SharePoint, or Office 365 groups directly in CRM. Documents will remain private until the user elects to share.

With the CRM Mobile App, these same documents can be viewed or modified directly from a tablet or mobile device.

CRM App for Outlook

Track emails, add Contacts from within an email, or create new records to track emails against all with the CRM App for Outlook. In addition to Internet Explorer and Chrome, CRM 2016 is expanded to include support for Firefox, Safari for Mac, and Outlook for Mac. One especially cool new feature is that you can track an email while composing it.

Updating CRM on the Go

In future blogs we will focus on Mobile enhancements and features specific to system administrators and customizers. However, we just had to leave you with this amazing new feature. Have you ever wanted to update a field from a mobile device leveraging touch capability? Let’s say you are an Account Manager and while having a conversation with a customer you want to update the Estimated Revenue field. By using a slider control, you can quickly update this field by simply moving the slider. Pretty awesome!

That’s all for the blog today, but make sure you check in with us daily, as we will be bringing you blogs, events, trainings, and webinars all focused on Dynamics CRM 2016. It’s going to be a busy year. You won’t want to miss a thing!

Joe D365

Joe D365 is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 superhero who runs on pure Dynamics adrenaline. As the face of PowerObjects, Joe D365’s mission is to reveal innovative ways to use Dynamics 365 and bring the application to more businesses and organizations around the world.

Do you have a Dynamics CRM or Dynamics 365 for sales system but no support? Unfamiliar with CRM and don’t know where to start? In this blog, we will discuss 9 reasons why your company should join PowerSuccess!

Do you have a Dynamics CRM or Dynamics 365 for sales system but no support? Unfamiliar with CRM and don’t know where to start? In this blog, we will discuss 9 reasons why your company should join PowerSuccess!

Just a note, The CRM app doesn’t work on Mac. It says it does but it doesn’t. I’ve tried in safari, Web mail and in outlook 2016. All failed. Why the app can’t support chrome on Mac is a mystery. Love the new dynamics but the team at Microsoft need to support more browsers and configurations.

Joe CRM

Hi Matt – What version of Safari are you using? The outlook crm client only works on windows. However, safari/chrome/internet explroer are all supported for the web application.

PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company, is a leader in delivering Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions through unparalleled offerings of service, support, education and add-ons. Winner of the 2017 Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Award for Dynamics 365 Consulting and Systems Integration, PowerObjects has built an unmatched team of Dynamics 365 experts that help organizations increase productivity, streamline business processes, and build better relationships.